5 minute read
Our TOP 5 Home Efficiency Life Hacks
conditioner not running at the same low temperature as it does during the day. So, with your air conditioner not at max capacity, you can enjoy some nocturnal energy savings and sweet dreams.
3. Get shady and shut out the sun
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Shade, shade, shade. However you can get it, grab it, and it will help your home stay cooler. Therefore, your air conditioning unit won’t have to work so hard, and your energy bill will be reduced. It’s simple. During a hot Bermuda summer, you can’t turn down the sun, but you can add some shade to turn down the heat. The first way to get shady is to keep blinds, curtains, drapes and awnings drawn and closed. Whether it’s Venetian blinds, roller blinds, plantation shutters or lined curtains, keep that beautiful sunshine outside where it belongs. For sun-facing windows, lightcoloured backings for blinds and curtains will help deflect sun heat too. By closing windows, blinds, shutters or drapes, you’ll be keeping the hot air and the sun’s rays out, so your air conditioning doesn’t have to run all the time to maintain the optimal temperature. Heat absorption can be drastically reduced if your windows have a strong line of defense. Even tinted windows can stop some of the sun’s heat coming into your air conditioned sanctuary, and your unit won’t have to work so hard. Want some more ways to throw shade and reduce air conditioning bills? Consider Mother Nature’s original shade maker – trees. Plant trees, vines or shrubs that can add a defensive line of shade to the house.
4. Turn off those heat-emitting culprits
The television, the computer, the printer, the lamp in the corner, the kitchen oven… all of these household essentials generate bucketloads of heat and will be forcing your air conditioner to work harder to keep the temperature under control. Turn them off and you’ll save money on your air conditioning energy consumption straight away! What can you turn off? Can you turn off lights in unused areas of your home? Can you turn off the television or any other appliances when not in use? Those tablets, computers and printers emit a lot of heat that can make your air conditioner work harder. Who knows, it might even help bring back the art of conversation (or perhaps cause a family mutiny!). Why not try cooking the dinner on the BBQ outside, or enjoy a lovely salad that requires no cooking at all? Your indoor stove can really heat up your living space and add to your air conditioning bill. Who doesn’t love a steak or vegetable’s cooked on the BBQ in Summertime? And if it keeps your house cooler, all the better.
5. Keeping it clean to keep costs down
Here’s one more awesome tip to reduce your air conditioning bill over summer. Ensure your air conditioning unit is regularly maintained and that the filter is either replaced or cleaned to maintain optimum efficiency. A dirty filter makes any air conditioning unit work harder, meaning more electricity and higher energy costs! Here’s to a long hot summer, and keeping cool when the bills come in.
OUR TOP 5 HOME EFFICI ENCY LIFE HACKS!
1. Use Power Str ips
Power strips (aka surge protectors) are ideal when it comes to powering off excessive devices and plugs. Some energy hogs (Like PC desktops) never really “turn off” when you turn off their switch. Plug them into a power strip, then just flip that strip off, and all those hungry devices will stop eating energy simultaneously.
2. Unplug Unused Chargers
Cell phone and battery chargers that are plugged in but not in use are often referred to as energy vampires. Alone, one charger won’t make much impact, but collectively energy vampires can be responsible for 10% of your energy bill.
3. Go Old School – with a Clothesl ine
In the days of old, when smart watches were scifi, you saw clotheslines everywhere. The logic is simple: reducing electricity usage! The less electricity you rely on, the more of an efficient, cost-saving person you’ll become!
4. Use compa ct fluores cent light bul bs
Light bulbs are among the most energy hungry things people use. They don’t use a lot of electricity on their own but when you have half a dozen lights on things start adding up. Compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs use up to 75% less energy. That means every four days a CFL bulb is on it uses as much energy as a regular light bulb does for one.
5. Upgrade your water heater
If you have an older water heater, you may be using more power than you think. The power it takes to heat the water heater adds up and it’s something you use every day. Energy efficient water heaters can save you money in the long run by being more efficient in producing hot water.
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